Watching movies

Can't help buying DVDs when I go to buy some groceries from the Indian-Sri Lankan area in Paris called Gard da Nord. So happened to watch 2 movies recently: Kabhi Alvida Na Kahna and Teesri Manzil.

First about Teesri Manzil...there is a song which I call "A tribute to the Giant Wheel!"...something about it:

I must admit that the precision with which Director Vijay Anand has filmed the movie and the songs is unbelievable. 40 years back, he could achieve what we cannot with digital technology well in place.

Long calculated shots and unusual camera positions...

"Dekhiye saahibon wo koi aur thee..." is completely picturised on the giant wheel and the camera almost takes you to a ride of the wheel...your head may actually spin! There is a particular shot wherein Shammi Kapoor is performing on the ground and the camera is placed on the rotating wheel...for almost 540 degrees of rotation, Shammi performs without going out of the frame, lip syncing without making a mistake.

No wonder, Pancham used to like watching his songs being shot.

After 1942 A Love Story, I cant think of a movie wherein people eagerly waited for songs to come on screen. No wonder, songless movies are in fashion nowadays.

Now lets talk about Kabhi Alvida Na Kahna...well, honestly I liked the movie. It is real and entertaining. Karan Johar is a genius. If you can forget some over-sentimental scenes, hamming by Shahrukh (but he cant help it, NRIs love it), songs and length of some scenes...you may like the rest of the film. Karan Johar always has entertaining scenes in his movies. Things that make it paisa vasool. NO I am NOT talking about special appearances by Kajol or John Abraham or 120 different colors for sarees in the background or 456 balloons on the set or one mandatory sports scene which tries hard with no success to capture the thrill of climax of Lagaan!!

I am talking about the wit in the dialogues, the way words are played around with...the humour which is real...which shows those characters (played by the most expensive actors) actually talking about things that you and me talk about...KKKG had some such scenes with Shahrukh and Hrithik trying to frustrate each other, Kal Ho Na Ho had many such scenes with Rajpal Yadav, Saif, Shahrukh, etc...and of course KANK also has many of them with Amitabh Bachchan as well!

All in all, a good film...or atleast not as bad as everybody seems to be saying. Not that this should be sent to film festivals because that will embarrass people who have watched Closer (2004).

There was one reference of Paris by the way, in the movie...this is to justify this post.

Another reason for writing this is that I am feeling too lazy to get out of bed...its cold outside!

Do post your comments...